Legacy Read Free Page A

wouldn’t believe.”
    “How’s about the Hungryman’s Platter and a cup of coffee?”
    “As fast as you can get it,” Lucas said, looking up to meet her gaze. “Please.”
    She gave him the look again, then turned and headed toward the kitchen to place his order.
    “And he wonders why I’m so upset about him dropping out of school,” Lucas heard her grumble as she walked up the aisle. “Big trouble is going to find him one of these days.”
    Lucas shook his head as he watched her go. Diners seated nearby had heard her scolding him and were casually looking his way.
    “Big trouble, huh?” he called after her. “What kind of trouble would come looking for me here?”
    The private jet taxied down the single runway of the La Cholla Airpark, coming to a gradual stop in the blazing Arizona sun.
    The door opened and a retractable stairway unfolded to the tarmac. Within moments a tall, white-haired figure leaning on a silver-topped cane stood in the doorway, looking out across the private airfield.
    “May I help you, sir?”
    The gentleman looked over at his pilot, who had joined him at the door.
    “No need, Jeffrey,” the man said, limping from the door-way and slowly making his way down the steps.
    “Should I arrange a ride for you?” the pilot asked, following.
    “I’m way ahead of you,” the white-haired man said from the bottom of the stairs.
    A navy blue Crown Victoria appeared just then, driving across the airfield toward them.
    “Very good, sir,” Jeffrey said.
    The man waited until the driver emerged, walked around the car, and opened the back door.
    “Any idea when you’ll be wanting to return to Seraph?” Jeffrey asked as the old man was about to climb into the car.
    The old man stopped, considering the question.
    “If all goes according to plan, it shouldn’t take long,” he said, then entered the coolness of the limousine.
    But one can never tell with things like this
, the old man thought as the driver climbed back inside.
    “Take me to Perdition,” the old man instructed.
    And without a moment’s hesitation, the car was on its way.

2
    Lucas considered heading over to the Hog Trough for a few drinks after work but thought better of it.
    The business with Richie was still gnawing at him, and then there was his mom. Did he really want to have another run-in with her tonight?
    Nope, he just didn’t have the patience.
    He sat behind the wheel of his truck, windows rolled down to catch the breeze as he headed home for an early night.
    This is a good thing
, he thought, driving fast down the bumpy dirt road that would take him to the Perdition Trailer Park (also owned by Big Lou).
    Lucas’s mind scrolled through all the things he could do with the extra time tonight—stuff he’d been meaning to dobut never quite got around to. He could start the Lord of the Rings books. He’d read
The Hobbit
, but not the Rings trilogy—although he had seen the movies and thought they were awesome. Or he could catch up on his laundry. Not as fun as reading, but it had to be done. And then there was the whole just-spending-time-with-his-mother thing.
    She was a good mother, and she had done a lot for him, but they’d sort of drifted apart in the time since he’d left high school.
    He drove slowly through the metal arch that served as the entrance to the trailer park, watching for stray kids and animals. It wouldn’t be the first time one or the other had darted out in front of him.
    He pulled up beside the powder blue double-wide he and his mother called home, and saw old Mrs. Taylor sitting in front of her place across the street. By the way she was staring, he knew she was waiting for him.
    “Hey, Mrs. Taylor,” Lucas said as he climbed from his truck.
    She was wearing a lovely flowered housecoat and a blond wig that sat crooked on her head, like some sort of furry hat, with tufts of gray poking out underneath.
    She got up from the white plastic lounge chair and motioned for him to join